www.CostaRicaTicas.com

is nixon still around? the contact info i had is no longer good. their website is down too. any info on amon plaza and how to book a room will be appreciated.

I am at the Clarion/ Amon all week and saw Nixon an hour ago. As far as his email it was working last week - PM me your email and I can ask him to get in touch with you.

You are better off booking through him only, as the chica fee is waived and the room rate is also discounted.

Hans

I will be coming down to SJ in January for business (and pleasure). Since the hotel is on the company dime, I need to stay somewhere that is "reputable" but I still want it to be Chica friendly and located near the action. How close is the Clarion to the DR? Or other similiar places? And can I get Nixon's contact info for booking purposes?

Thanks for any help you can give to this Newbie.

The Clarion Amon Plaza is less than a block from H. Little Havana, less than three blocks from New Fantasy massage parlor...but is a bit of a (daytime) hike or taxi ride to the heart of the Gulch, Ground Zero - the Hotel del Rey.

Keep in mind however that taxis are inexpensive in S.J. (be sure to ask the drive to use the taximeter and try to hire only the red taxis with the yellow triangle placard showing the taxi license number). Another advantage of the Clarion's location is that it's also fairly close to some of the seedier strip clubs/massage joints, including V.I.P.'s #1 and Jetset, Bar Monaco (four blocks) and others.

The only complaint I've ever heard about the Amon (other than that Nixon can be hard to reach via e-mail), is that they don't use fitted sheets on the beds. More than one guy has complained about his skin coming in contact with a bare mattress. Really good breakfast on-site, served on a nice outdoor patio. Internet. Casino. Most other services found in a four-star hotel.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Amon Plaza is fairly close to the DR, a 5 minute cab ride. At night, flag down a passing taxi on the street in front or the side of the hotel. Don't use the rip-off taxis parked in front of the hotel. They are also red with yellow triangles, but they don't use the meter and charge 3 or 4 times the fare. One of these cocksuckers tried to charge me 3,000¢ to go from the hotel back to my apartment over by the Hospital Calderon Guardia. It's a 800¢ fare so I laughed at him and walked away before I got in.

Thatphuckingtaxista is one word.

I think (since it's the company dime and the boss knows SJ fairly well), that I'm going to stay at the Presidente. I'd much rather stay at HDR but I KNOW that will never pass muster with the boss. At least at the Presidente I'll be in the Gulch. I'll be there Jan 11 to Jan 16, so if anyone wants to meet for a drink and some education for me, the beers are on me. (Hopefully it won't be the whole VIP section showing up or I could be broke fast...)

I'll drink to that.